Winners of the Deignan Award for Responsible Entrepreneurship will be announced in a prize giving ceremony slated for March 25 at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), with three small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from Hong Kong and Macau respectively chosen as finalists, according to a recent statement from the organisers.
The statement noted that the award, which was launched in April last year, is named in honour of Alfred Deignan, who devoted his life to education and social service. It aims to encourage sustainable practices, corporate social responsibility, business ethics, and Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) among SMEs in the two special administrative regions (SARs).
The statement added that the award is also designed to recognise the dynamic business landscape in both SARs. It is a joint effort between Wofoo Social Enterprises in Hong Kong, the principal organisation behind the award, and the Macao Ricci Institute at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ).
The statement noted that the organisation is committed to promoting responsible entrepreneurship, “Creating Shared Values” and “Harmony”. The award is among its key initiatives reflecting its mission to “encourage sustainability and responsible business practices that create a positive social impact in Hong Kong”.
Meanwhile, the institute aims to promote “honesty, integrity, and openness to different cultures” while highlighting Macau’s “cross-cultural charisma”. It has been advocating for business ethics and corporate social responsibility in Macau for the past 20 years, with the award launched to further communicate and promote these values, the statement underlined.
The award is also supported by various entities.
The entry period for the award ran until October 31, with those eligible being SMEs from Hong Kong and Macau that employ less than 100 persons and met the entry criteria, the statement added, drawing a “diverse group of applicants” from different industries.
The applicants, according to the statement, were judged based on criteria regarding “respecting human dignity, business ethics, fairness, the disadvantaged, environment, and entrepreneurial spirit”. The judging panel represents a broad range of circles such as public authorities, social service organisations and academia.
The Steering Committee of the Deignan Award has provided various types of support and resources throughout the judging period, the statement said, noting that its Vice Chairman Joseph Lee (李宗德) believes that sustainable societal development can only be achieved if enterprises “embrace a sense of social responsibility”.
He added that business leaders who prioritise social responsibility can “pave the way for a brighter future by contributing to the development of their enterprises and the betterment of society”.
More details can be found at https://www.deignanaward.org/ or by contacting the Secretariat of the Organising Committee.
This screen capture taken from the Deignan Award for Responsible Entrepreneurship’s website last night shows its logo.
